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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The hotel of Cambacérès-Murles is an iconic mansion in Montpellier, built in the early eighteenth century. It is part of the architectural tradition of the late seventeenth century, with a quadrilateral organization around a central courtyard. The building is distinguished by its loggia staircase, which is larger than the courtyard itself, and by a facade on St. Croix Street consisting of a split base, two high floors under ceilings, and a cornice surmounted by a balustrade. The entrance door, untied, leads to a courtyard whose bottom wall adopts a curved shape, a local peculiarity frequent in Montpellier.

The construction of the hotel is attributed to architect Jean Giral. The works began in 1707, but the façade on Rue Sainte-Croix was built only in 1723, while that on Rue Coste-Frège dates from 1730. The building is sponsored by Dominique de Cambacérès, adviser to the Montpellier Court of Accounts, Aides and Finance. Initially, a house built by Antoine Giral in 1676 occupied the site, but it was completely destroyed and rebuilt from 1723. The works, spread out until 1730, include developments such as cellars on several levels of basements and remarkable ironworks.

The hotel is protected by historical monuments. As early as 1943, the façade and roof overlooking the square were marked. In 1995, this protection was extended to all the facades and roofs, the courtyard with its entrance passage, the stairs (large and secondary) with their ironwork, as well as the cellars. These measures highlight the heritage value of the building, both for its architecture and for its history linked to the Montpellierian aristocracy of the eighteenth century.

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